FLINT, MI -- Mayor Dayne Walling pushed the ceremonial button to change the city's water source from Detroit to the Flint River in April 2014.

Today, Sept. 25, Walling said he believes the city's use of the river has resulted in an increased risk of lead leaching into drinking water because of the river water's corrosiveness and said he would consider support for reconnecting Flint to the Detroit water system again.

Walling, speaking at a news conference to issue a lead advisory for the city, said he's willing to discuss buying Detroit-treated Lake Huron water again, but he said that decision rests with Gov. Rick Snyder.

His comments came the day after a Hurley Medical Center doctor released a study showing increasing incidents of elevated blood lead levels in Flint children.

Flint's long-term drinking water plan is still to eventually draw water from a new pipeline to Lake Huron that's being built by the city and Genesee County through the Karegnondi Water Authority.

But the pipeline isn't expected to be completed until some time in 2016 and Flint has struggled with water quality and treatment since switching to the Flint River in the interim.

"I think that given the variety of information that's available that there is an increased risk (using the river), and that's why the city is issuing a lead advisory and encouraging every household to take these proactive steps," Walling said.

While the mayor left the door open to switching water sources -- at an estimated cost of $1.5 million per month, City Administrator Natasha Henderson and Brad Wurfel, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality, said Flint can't afford such a change.

The city's lead advisory includes recommendations from the Genesee County Health Department, suggesting residents flush cold water pipes by running water approximately five minutes before using; not using hot water for drinking, cooking or mixing infant formula; and installing water filters certified by the National Science Foundation for lead removal.

Although Walling said it would be technically possible to change the city's water source, Wurfel said it is not a realistic financially and unnecessary considering Flint's water meets the standards of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Dave Murray, a spokesman for Snyder, did not directly address the issue of reconnecting to Detroit for water, but issued a statement saying, "The governor and state agencies continue to work with city and community leaders on a variety of approaches to help residents and ensure they have clean, safe water."

Asked if reconnection to the Detroit water system was still an option, Murray said, "The governor and representatives from state agencies continue to work with city leaders on a variety of topics related to Flint and its infrastructure challenges."

"It's important that residents have access to accurate information, and know where they can get their homes tested and have access to medical tests that will ease their minds," Murray's statement says. "Both the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Health and Human Services are working closely with the city and evaluating data to assist the Flint leaders as they make decisions for their city moving forward."

Walling said discussions with the state about reconnecting Flint to the Detroit water system have been ongoing, occurring as recently as Monday, Sept. 21, and could continue.

"Are there discussions about Detroit? The answer is yes," said Walling, who said he doesn't expect to initiate further discussions.

Walling has been lobbying the governor instead for $30 million in infrastructure funding, $10 million of which would be dedicated to replacing lead service lines leading to individual homes.

Lead leaching has been identified in the city's testing of water inside homes since the switch to the Flint River.

Lead levels have remained within allowable thresholds during the last 16 months, but the city's own testing shows lead levels have been rising since the city began using the Flint River for water.

Water testing by Virginia Tech university has shown even higher lead levels and researchers there have blamed the corrosiveness of river water and the large amount of lead and lead solder in Flint pipes and plumbing for the resulting lead levels.

On Thursday, Set. 25, a Hurley Medical Center doctor released a study showing increasing incidents of elevated blood lead levels in Flint children.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Department of Health and Human Services has questioned that study and said blood lead levels in Flint have remained fairly steady for children under 16 years old since the city switched from Lake Huron water to the river.

Walling said today that the governor "needs to work harder to identify (necessary) resources" to help Flint with water issues.

"The governor has a substantial responsibility here," he said.

Snyder appointed a succession of emergency managers to run Flint after declaring a financial emergency here in 2011.

One of them -- Darnell Earley -- made the decision to use the Flint River as the city's drinking water source rather negotiating a new contract to continue buying Lake Huron water from Detroit in the short-term.

Since the switch to the river, individuals and groups like the Concerned Pastors for Social Action have lobbied to end the use of the river because they consider lake water safer and of higher quality.

In January, as Flint struggled to cut total trihalomethanes (TTHM) in treated river water, Sue McCormick, director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, said she was willing to to talk about providing emergency water to Flint -- even without a long-term deal between the two cities.

Greg Eno, a spokesman for DWSD, said he could not immediately say whether that offer remains as Detroit transitions to becoming part of a regional water authority.